My phone will go in the handlebar bag at the first sign of rain.

I know the tires I received today will fit because they were the ones I took off to put the brand new ones on, before leaving home three weeks ago.

I've booted tires when punctures got too big, but never think of it for pinholes. I've got strips of Tyvek as a permanent part of what goes in the wedge pack, so I can save my money for candy and ice cream.

As long as the signs are not of the "WANTED: Dead or Alive (Preferably DEAD)" variety...

Hang in there. We keep running into signs that Keith was here. FWIW Janet remembered you

I killed a phone in the rain. I didn't even consider that electronics don't like to get wet. I was pulling my phone out willy nilly - then, guess what? It died! We bought a new phone in the USA - a cheap Walmart phone. It worked until we crossed into Canada, and then never worked again, until we crossed back to the USA.

Jacinto dropped his phone in the gravel on Day 2 of our border to border trip. The bottom half of the screen quit functioning.

In both cases, we could not get a phone shipped to a motel. I can't say I blame TMobile.

But, the end of that story is that we now carry an old phone, just in case. It's been riding around for six weeks now.

We've had two big climbing days in a row. I'm glad we don't have three! I think the part that really killed me was climbing in the hot sun. Today's climb was overcast and cooler. I did much better. Breaking up those long days is a good idea. This is supposed to be fun!

Oh - speaking of spare tires. Oren bought a 590 tire in Moab. He didn't know the story about 559 vs 590. In the meanwhile, we've given up looking at shops for an appropriate tire. I've had one shipped to my aunt's house a couple of days down the road. It's probably not necessary at this point, we are ten riding days from the end - but, you never know!

Use a $1 bill as a boot to cover the inside of the tire where the puncture happened. It’ll keep the hole from further damaging your tube

Hi Dana

Thanks for the education. I had no idea it was a real thing.

Does it work under armpits, too? I have a couple that ould use a deep cleaning. :)

Keep those comments coming in- I'm loving them!

Hi-

Yes I think so as well. I was struggling to come up with the name Bob Linette, but that's definitely who I was thinking of. I forget whether they were the water or air group, though, but I think water.

I got them from The Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, WI over the winter.

I cant really blame Schwalbe for the sharp gravel that lodges in the treads, I think, and certainly not the Hostel Shoppe.

I can only *surmise* about the manufacturing defect in the bead failure, and the tire's already in the trash so there's no evidence available to support my claim.

Oh well it's only time and that I have plenty of. I'm in the process of rearranging my various reservations and creating a selection of shorter, less taxing riding days into the bargain. So that in and of itself may turn out to be an unexpected benefit an virtue of the enforced layover.

Perhaps it's a subtle message from the bicycling gods, telling me my ego was bigger than my body could have handled.

Keith - nothing deep in my reference! Just thinking about burning sage around your bike (I thought it was named Odysseus?) to ward off some of the negative energy it seems to have picked up. It is an ancient practice for cleansing a space. Enjoy your rest day!

Kevin and I remember his name and he looks vaguely familiar. Kevin thought maybe he worked for Bob Linette?

I’m so sorry about your terrible luck with your tires, Keith. Also astonished - we’ve been riding them on our BF’s ever since 2009 and have never had anything remotely like this. It must be a manufacturing defect. Who did you buy them from? You should see if you can get a free replacement.

Also, sorry if I led you astray in recommending you not carry a spare I your Forum post. I should have recommended that you not carry a spare unless you’re going to need one.

Hi Dana

That's an interesting suggestion. I am embarrassed to admit I don't recognize the reference; is it from The Odyssey?

There's certainly no shortage of sage to be had around here.

Hi Charmaine

I didn't bring spares but my wife is sending me the two I took off before leaving. They should have plenty of life in them yet. They're due to arrive tomorrow so I should be back on the road by Wednesday, I hope.

Yes! Do you remember Mark too?